Question to artists/graphic designers

I have music album coming out, almost finished. Is there any artist here who could make an album cover for me for free? I will offcorse mention you as the creator of the art.

Style: extreme metal/ambient/atmospheric

Theme:

Astronomy, space, universe, lucid dreams, philosophy, nature, crop circles, ufos, aliens, parapsychology, esoterics, sacred geometry, out of body experiences, pyramids, runes, Hyperborea, ahnenerbe, radio noises, arctic circle, abandoned places, altered states of mind/perception

Basically anything mystical.

As a photographer/graphic designer, I have had similar requests. Working for free, as if it is a great opportunity for me.. Here is my standard response:

Show a minimal amount of respect, and offer something more in return than a mention of my name.

Art students are often approached with this type of request, and most jump at the opportunity of a first "job". The direct result of this is that professional artists are left with not enough work. The very students who take these jobs will end up in the same situation once they are out of school and trying to make a living. Not smart!

Why are artists expected to work for free? Why not carpenters, teachers, accountants, IT-ers, etc.? What makes art less valuable than other work?

You make art yourself. I assume you will be selling your music (if it is any good). The artwork on the album cover will help you make money. So why not offer a tiny percentage of that money to the designer?

So, again, show some respect!

soulwaxer

originally posted by: soulwaxer
As a photographer/graphic designer, I have had similar requests. Working for free, as if it is a great opportunity for me.. Here is my standard response:

Show a minimal amount of respect, and offer something more in return than a mention of my name.

Art students are often approached with this type of request, and most jump at the opportunity of a first "job". The direct result of this is that professional artists are left with not enough work. The very students who take these jobs will end up in the same situation once they are out of school and trying to make a living. Not smart!

Why are artists expected to work for free? Why not carpenters, teachers, accountants, IT-ers, etc.? What makes art less valuable than other work?

You make art yourself. I assume you will be selling your music (if it is any good). The artwork on the album cover will help you make money. So why not offer a tiny percentage of that money to the designer?

So, again, show some respect!

soulwaxer

Actually I make music as creative self expression, absolutely free for download and with no copy right.

I guess it's not the answer you expected.

In my opinion once it becomes about making money, the quality drops significantly as it is no longer about personal need for creation, but about making money, bound by time frames, contracts etc... that is why so many bands start out good but turn to boring # and fade away once they sign the contract.

I understand not everyone will have that opinion, but you judged me for no reason and accused of lack of respect, which isn't the case. Respect is not something that is measured in ammounts of money, neither is quality of music, the concept is different.

...so back to the subject.

What I offer is collaboration. Free advertisement of your art through my music and vise versa.

Double post

a reply to: Velatropa24

More than happy for you to use something I have created. Take a look HERE

PM me if interested

originally posted by: nerbot
a reply to: Velatropa24

More than happy for you to use something I have created. Take a look HERE

PM me if interested

Thanks a lot dude! Very impressive. I will pm you once i get home from work.

you could say in the OP that it is non-commercial project to avoid confusion.
consider to take soulwaxers words as advice not as an offense.

we artists are a sensible bunch and often starving... lol not necessarily greedy and only in it for the money
maybe those musicians are but not us graphic designers!

I dont work for free either.

I have been burned countless time with a promise of exposure, CDs or DVD, advertising, collaboration with a known talent, promise of future PAID projects, even sex....

And the project never get's finished, abandoned, or trashed...thus my time and effort was essentially wasted.

I've had my fill of arrogant prima donas!!! I'm not saying you are but my previous experiences have soured me on "donations" to wanna be's



I have even contributed money as a producer and been left off the credits...

It's not about the money per se....mutual respect is so often lacking.



I have made plenty of music videos for bands and solo artists with future promises but many times; not even so much as a THANK You!!!


Cynical...damn right....no good deed goes unpunished!!

I asked an artist on deviant art if I could use one his images in a non-commercial project I was undertaking. I offered to gift him 12 months membership at Deviant (you can also gift 3 months) and also recognition and a link to his Deviant profile. He accepted and sent me the RAW image at twice the size.

originally posted by: Brotherman
I dont work for free either.

That is not art, that is business and the overriding factor is profit rather than pleasure.
Anyone who wishes to use my art in any way is free to do so as long as they ask.

Free art forever.

Making money from art does not diminish the quality at all.

Pick from almost any of the famous artists, they all made their art available for sale to continue their career. When a piece sell it speaks volumes, the artist will know if they are in contact with the rest of the human race and that their is appreciated, theres no shame in it.

Also, i think theres a difference between extremely commercial art (such as a famous brand logo) and somthing which is considered a piece of work that is its own point of existence and beautiful for making a person think about what the artist is saying beyond his or her grace with a art medium.

originally posted by: nerbot

originally posted by: Brotherman
I dont work for free either.

That is not art, that is business and the overriding factor is profit rather than pleasure.
Anyone who wishes to use my art in any way is free to do so as long as they ask.

Free art forever.

That's your prerogative but....

I have spent appx. 75k usd on equipment and studio to make my art [filmmaker] and that doesn't even take into consideration the money spent on training, workshops, insurance, crew and actor payments, and post production expenses.

Give it away....NO!!

no way would I expect a graphic artist, musician composer or craftsman to work for free on one of my projects. It's called professionalism.

originally posted by: nerbot

originally posted by: Brotherman
I dont work for free either.

That is not art, that is business and the overriding factor is profit rather than pleasure.
Anyone who wishes to use my art in any way is free to do so as long as they ask.

Free art forever.

When someone wants a service that is considered work. When I make things it costs me money to make things, paint isn't cheap neither is any of the materials I use I don't burn them up by giving them away. Art can be business don't pretend it cannot be and not be art.

a reply to: Velatropa24

I love metal and find Photoshipping my own PR material for clubs etc. If you had something in mind I'd give it a bash...

a reply to: Brotherman

I was in commercial art for 30 years. I know that art has a cost but those who seek it from every possible avenue and refuse to "give" as a celebration of their art will never truly find success.

History is full of broke and hungry artists. It was the passion that kept them going.

Are you THAT hungry? I doubt it.

a reply to: nerbot

You don't have a clue about anything about me. Is it because I think your premise of working for free is preposterous you have to make a pre disposition on not only how passionate I am and the level of success I am going to or not going to achieve? I don't work for free.

originally posted by: nerbot
a reply to: Brotherman

I was in commercial art for 30 years. I know that art has a cost but those who seek it from every possible avenue and refuse to "give" as a celebration of their art will never truly find success.

History is full of broke and hungry artists. It was the passion that kept them going.

Are you THAT hungry? I doubt it.

It's not the passion I lack. It's the people that think they are doing you a big favor by letting you participate in their project that annoy me.

The arrogance of some "artists" is extraordinary. I have produced, acted, crewed on many projects that appealed to me on a aesthetic level or I thought was socially relevant, with no payment expected.

I even go against my union affiliations to participate in no/low new media, non union projects I like. It's not all about the money. But respect for my time, efforts and gear is expected.

originally posted by: olaru12

originally posted by: nerbot
a reply to: Brotherman

I was in commercial art for 30 years. I know that art has a cost but those who seek it from every possible avenue and refuse to "give" as a celebration of their art will never truly find success.

History is full of broke and hungry artists. It was the passion that kept them going.

Are you THAT hungry? I doubt it.

It's not the passion I lack. It's the people that think they are doing you a big favor by letting you participate in their project that annoy me.

The arrogance of some "artists" is extraordinary. I have produced, acted, crewed on many projects that appealed to me on a aesthetic level or I thought was socially relevant, with no payment expected.

I even go against my union affiliations to participate in no/low new media, non union projects I like. It's not all about the money. But respect for my time, efforts and gear is expected.

If you are annoyed by my offer in the op, have a cry, wipe your tears and move on.